Fodor's Expert Review Graduate Chapel Hill

In the center of this hotel, three floors of rooms overlook a carpeted basketball court, where guests can shoot hoops with soft basketballs handed out at the front desk. It's one very notable touch among many that compel both heavy and casual UNC fans to stay at this boutique hotel that pampers with posh amenities like marble bathrooms. Guests can people-watch from room balconies or mingle with the after-work crowd at the Trophy Room, the cushy ground-floor bar and patio, where the honey used in cocktails is sourced from beehives on the roof. Service is spot-on, from the friendly hosts behind the counter to the well-versed bartender. The setting and the luxury combine to make guests feel both part of the college scene and far removed from their everyday lives.

If booking far in advance, request Room 23, a reconstruction of Michael Jordan's dorm room.